Bagheera
Genre: House/chill wave/disco
Bagheera is a guilty pleasure without the guilt. The brainchild of 20-year-old Aidan Kennedy, this is dance music for those who give a damn about dance music. Kennedy released his first album on Paris label Plik & Plok in July 2012 and it is completely infectious, fun and intelligently mixed.

We’d love to see him on Tequila Rok’s patio with an epic light set up and ample confetti — lots and lots of confetti.

Start with: “Ray Gun,” which you can find on Soundcloud — just don’t expect to remain seated for the duration of the song.

Tyagaraja Genre: Folk/rock/experimental/soul
“Transcendent” is a word that’s thrown around a lot to describe Tyagaraja, which covers everything from country gospel to blues rock to singer/songwriter pieces, all of it laced with open-minded spirituality and brought together by scorching, soulful vocals from lead singer Jonathan Welch.

Welch recently went on a pilgrimage through India and even offers Skype meditation sessions through his website (Tyagaraja.com). Look him up — his Thom Yorke-esque vocals are guaranteed to give you the chills at least once.

Start with: “Wearing the Crown,” a beautifully epic, at times Jeff Buckley-esque rock build-up that asserts that we are all “constantly wearing the crown of enlightenment, if only we could awaken it,” Tyagaraja said.

Robert Ellis Genre: Country/folk
There’s been a Texas-sized hole in our heart ever since Robert Ellis left Houston to set up shop in Nashville. If ever there was a musician to represent young Texas country to the rest of the world, Ellis is it — his songs border on folksy indie rock one minute and head straight into rompin’ stompin’ classic country the next.

Ellis’ beautiful storytelling lyrics are set to the kind of music you’ll want to listen to while you watch the sun set from the tailgate of your truck. Or, in our case, from your desk on a rainy January afternoon.

Start with: “Friends Like Those,” from Ellis’ last full length album, Photographs

Southern Backtones Genre: Voodoo rock
A few months back, our dreams came true when Southern Backtones lead singer Hank Schyma played the patio at The Grill. Schyma oscillates between twangy singer-songwriter and the Backtones’ moody voodoo rock that intertwines with spaghetti Western and devil-may-care rock ‘n roll.

We’ve been begging bars to book Southern Backtones for months now — this is the kind of rock ‘n roll we want to sink into face-first.

Start with: “Forever” and the infamous music video that goes with it

The Tontons Genre: Indie rock
Things are really ramping up for The Tontons. Along with selling out venues like W Austin, the band was recently selected (along with Bun B and Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin) to be part of a Greater Houston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau ad campaign that asserts that “Houston is hip.”

Start with: “Golden,” an upbeat indie pop/rock romp from The Tontons’ 2011 release of the same name

B L A C K I E
Genre: Noise/punk/hip hop
After making a name for himself by creating massive sound systems for raucous shows, B L A C K I E (yes, all caps, with spaces) has become a shining beacon of Texas-born music that couldn’t care less about rules, genres or what you think of him.

Fader calls it aggro-noise rap, the New York Times calls him a “one-man noise ordinance violation” but to us, B L A C K I E creates gristly, moody chaos that can only be enjoyed at one volume: Unflinchingly loud.

Start with: “Radiowaves,” from his 2012 release GEN

Bang Bangz
Genre: Electro-pop
Bang Bangz is no stranger to Beaumont — this band has played Tequila Rok a few times, and Bang Bangz member Mario Rodriguez has been here plenty with his other band, the lovable prog-rock outfit Tax the Wolf.

Bang Bangz is a step in a different direction, however. Simple electronic beats and sweet pop vocals yield a product that is simultaneously dancey and chill. You can catch this three-piece at Tequila Rok with Hello Chief and Bantam Foxes on Jan. 25.